Collapsible crate



. Feb. 26} 1924.

c. s. LEHMAN 1COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed May 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1924;

C. S. LEHMAN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed May 4, 1925 2 Shgets-$heet 2 Patented Feb. 2%, i924.

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as will enable others skilled in the art to.

which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to collapsible boxes, and has for its object to provide a device of this character wherein the top and sides of the box are hingedly connected together in a manner whereby they may be folded onto each other, and onto the bottom of the box into a compact package for storage and shipping purposes.

A further object is to provide means for rigidly holding the parts of the box in collapsed position.

A further object is to provide spring and lug interengaging means between tlieends of the box and the sides for rigidly holding said parts together. Also to" provide the vertical edges of the sides and ends of the box with metallic channels for protecting said edges against damage, and to provide the channels of the front and rear walls with flanges which engage the channels carried by the end members, and not only limit the outward movement of the end members but form substantially air tight connections between the parts.

With the above and other objects in View the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the col lapsible box.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the box, showing the cover open and the position of the end members in dotted lines against the inner wall of the front member preparatory to folding the front member inwardly.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the box.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the box showing the same folded.

F r 5 i a s d were Of he b x showing the same folded.

Figurefi is a detail perspective View of one corner of the box showing parts partially' folded onto each other.

Re e r n wil d ing th num desig'nates the bottom of the box, 2 transversely disposed barssecured to 'said ,bottom at its end. Hingedly connected at 3 to the forward 'end of thebars 2 is' th'e front wall 4; of the box,which'front wall is adapt-,1

ed to be folded inwardly onto. the bottom 1 after the end walls5 have been" folded inwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. The end wallsbc are hingedly connected at ,6 to the inner side of the front wall 4 at points where, after they are folded to the dotted line position shownin F igure 2 and the front. wall folded onto the bottom 1, the end walls will be dispesed between the bars 2 where they will n'ot" inter-. fare ith 1 m n f emp P ka e o t of the d vi h n collaps d- The back wall ,7 is hingedlyflc'onncot-ed at, 8 to the lower section 9 of wall, which lower seii en is f ei i i t h ht wh r the back wall ,7, when folded inwardly- ,ontothe wall 4 during the folding operation, willassume a position close to the upper side of the wall 4. All of the walls are rigidly held in relation to each other by the end walls 5 engaging the inner sides of the bars 2 and by the apertured lugs 10 carried by the end Walls, which apertured lugs receive pins. 11 carried by the upper side of the rear wall 7, however the apertured lugs have sufficient spring action therein to allow the same to be sprung out of engagement with the lugs for collapsing the device. The ends of the front and rear walls 1 and 7 are provided with reinforcing metallic channels 12, which channels are provided with flanges 13, which engage the outer sides of the end Walls 5 and frictionally bind, thereby forming substantially watertight and airtight joints. However to further brace the ends of the device reinforcing plates 1% are pro vided, to which plates the handles 15 are attached. Hingedly connected to the upper edge of the back section 7 is a cover 16, which cover is hingedly connected by means of a link hinge 17 the link 18 of which allows a limited independent movement of the cover 16, after the folding operation for bringing said cover in substantial registration with the other sections of the collapsible box and the lugs 19 to a position where they may be received by the spring fasteners 20 carried by the end plates 14 as clearly shown in Figure 5, for holding the device in collapsed position. lrVhen the box is collapsed, it is obvious that it will not take up as much room as a conventional form of box, and consequently boxes in large quantities may be stored and shipped in a minimum amount of space. V

The forward side of the top '16 is provided with hasps 21, which receive notched lugs 22 for holding the cover 16 closed. However to prevent the hasp from coming out of en gagement with the notched lugs 20, the hasps are provided with spring arms :l

which are received in the notches 24: of the lugs, said spring arms being provided with convolutions 25 for allowing a maximum amount of spring movement of the arms 23 and their arms 26 preferably extend through and form the hinging point between the sections of the hasps.

From the above it will be seen that a collapsible crate is provided which will easily and I quickly collapse or open, and when collapsed is folded into a compact package and rigidly held.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. A collapsible box comprising a bottom, a front side hingedly connected to the forward end of the bottom, and foldable onto the bottom, end sections hingedly connected to the inner side of the front side and aeaoea foldable onto the front side, said end sections having apertured spring lugs and lugs carried by the upper side of a foldable rearside and adapted to be received by said spring lugs.

2. A foldable box comprising a bottom section, a front wall hingedly connected to the bottom section at one side thereof, a rear wall hingedly connected to the bottom section at one side thereof, end sections hingedly connected to the inner side of the front wall and foldable thereon, latching means between the free ends of the end walls and the rear wall, a cover hingedly connected to the upper end of the rear wall and foldable thereon, hinges having links connecting the cover to the rear wall, lugs carried by the ends of the cover, and fasteners carried by the bottom section and adapted to engage said lugs for holding the box in folded positions.

3. The combination with the free ends of end walls of a foldable box, a hinged back wall, of channel members carried by the ends of the back wall, said channel members being provided with flanges adapted to be engaged by the free ends of the end walls, and interlocking means between the free ends of the end walls and the back wall.

In testimony whereof I have signed in name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN S. LEHMAN.

Witnesses:

Mormon REED, C. H. REED. 

